Start Here: How Shenandoah National Park Is a Backpacker’s Nursery

Basically, it’s a classroom for Backpacking 101.

Oct 26, 2019 : Notebook

Consider the Timber

Shenandoah National Park, September 8–16, 2019 Dispatch 2: Megaflora It can be hard for anyone to see the forest for the trees, but in the backcountry, it can be hard...

Oct 7, 2019 : Notebook

Tourists and Citizens on the AT

Shenandoah National Park, September 8–16, 2019 Dispatch 1: Backpacking Is Not Thru-hiking The two-and-a-half months I spent on my LASH three years ago were the most emotionally volatile two and...

Oct 3, 2019 : Notebook

Just Taking a Vacation

Going out for a section three years after an aborted thru-hike attempt

Jul 5, 2019 : Notebook

You May Start Solo, but You’ll Never Walk Alone

"You're going by yourself?" That was the question I got most frequently when I began telling people I was going to hike the Appalachian Trail. I had a multitude of...

Jul 15, 2018 : Christopher Keys

And Just Like That, It Was Done.

And just like that, it was done. I didn’t beat the odds of finishing a thru-hike in one year, but I did finish what I started. Ultimately I proved to...

Aug 21, 2017 : Katina (Arachne) Daanen

See Ya Never Again, Shenandoahs!

How do you know someone's a thru-hiker? The outfit usually gives it away! Shenandoahs, done! I covered 108 miles over 8 days, which is actually kind of slow considering the...

Jun 16, 2017 : Deane "Roo" Giordano

The Beer Drinker’s Guide to the Appalachian Trail [Virginia Edition]

There are numerous breweries, brew pubs, and bars found in and around trail towns where people of age can pack on those liquid calories and calm those aching muscles. Here...

Oct 18, 2016 : Stubbs

Milestones!

Harper's Ferry I've made it to Harper's Ferry and I'm looking forward to my first planned break. Tomorrow morning I get on a train to go home. Going to see...

May 3, 2016 : George Turner (Old Growth)

Bronchitis. Bear. Shenandoah Burning: The First Flipping 100 Miles

A flip flop beginning at this point, at this time, has given me a time to hang out a little longer with my husband, get my trail legs and enjoy...

May 1, 2016 : Katina (Arachne) Daanen